Syria , which has long accused Arab and Western satellite news networks for fabricating and falsifying events , now has CNN in its sights .

State-run Syrian media asserted Thursday that CNN journalists were involved in blowing up an oil pipeline in Homs province , collaborating with `` saboteurs . ''

The allegations surfaced when Syrian state TV aired portions of the CNN documentary `` 72 Hours Under Fire , '' about the challenges faced by a CNN team while on assignment in Homs .

`` 72 Hours Under Fire '' : Life and death under Syria 's onslaught

Rafiq Lutf , described as a member of the Arab Journalists Union in America , asked on the program : `` Who is behind the attack ? It is one particular group . Who is this group ? Let -LRB- CNN -RRB- answer this question . It 's one of two things . It is either that they are the perpetrators . ... But I guarantee to you that they are the accomplices . ''

The anchor talking with Lutf spoke of `` conclusive evidence of the involvement of CNN and the American journalists who were present there in the detonation of the oil pipelines in Homs . ''

Syria 's state news agency SANA picked up the theme Friday , writing that the footage `` revealed that the camera operators were CNN correspondents who entered Syria illegally through the Lebanese borders and seemed to have coordinated with the saboteurs to film a video of the attack and send it to their channel . ''

SANA also reported that CNN claimed the `` Syrian army was behind the attack to deflect suspicion of any coordination , if not to say involvement , with the terrorist saboteurs . ''

Tony Maddox , executive vice president and managing director of CNN International , called the assertions `` ridiculous . ''

`` We stand firmly behind our excellent reporting on Syria , '' he said . `` It is a pity that its citizens did not get to see this important documentary without these ridiculous interventions . ''

Among other allegations made on the program , Lutf asked whether American media outlets were working with al Qaeda , which he linked to the Free Syrian Army resistance .

`` Why are they now working with al Qaeda ? '' he asks . `` I lived in America for 16 years , and I know the Americans are good people . ''

There have been other unlikely claims by Syrian state media against what they see as international conspiracies against the regime .

A state TV anchor said Al-Jazeera , the Arabic-language news network , `` depended on armed individuals , the terrorists as correspondents . ''

Syrian networks devote hours every day to projecting the government 's message and discrediting any version of events that differs from the regime 's .

Syria has been cracking down on anti-regime protesters for more than a year , and during that time , Syria has blocked unhindered access to international journalists . As a result , it is nearly impossible to confirm events there independently .

The government has consistently blamed the violence in the country on terrorist groups , but activists say the government security forces and their militia allies have instigated attacks against civilians .

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Syrian media claim journalists helped blow up oil pipeline in Homs

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CNN executive decries `` ridiculous '' allegations

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Media also carry claim that U.S. outlets are working with al Qaeda